I'm done

One Million Moms for Gun Control

I haven't joined many (if any) non-local organizations.  In my life I've stayed away from most issues that cause controversy or intense debate.  I haven't wanted to make waves.  I don't want to upset people.  During the 2012 election season, my opinions started to percolate to the surface.  At 44 years old I've decided it's time.

I'M DONE.
I'm done keeping it to myself.  If I offend you, oh well.  If I upset you, I guess you'll have to figure it out.  If you disagree with me, debate it. Share you arguments.  Disagree if you will, but if you attack me verbally, I will not respond.  I do not have the energy to get into a pissing contest based on paranoid rhetoric and false information, so check your sources.

I've been following the growth of the One Million Moms for Gun Control movement and today I joined.  This morning on the news the President of the NRA once again spouted off about the 2nd amendment. BLAH BLAH BLAH.  The second amendment was written long before the weapons that are now available were even imagined.  It also specifies a "well-regulated" militia.  I wonder how many of those so concerned with their "right to bear arms" ever thought to serve in the military.

When people are talking about how "guns don't kill people, people kill people", I want to vomit.
OPEN YOUR EYES.
Look around the world.
The US has some of the worst GUN violence among similar nations.  We are barbaric.

Do we need to address mental health?  Absolutely.  Do we need to look at violence in the media? Absolutely.  Do we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our family members?  Absolutely.

We also need common sense Gun Control laws that require at least as much oversight as driving a car, or buying some prescription medications.  We are all over crazy about things like tobacco, alcohol and marijuana but GOD FORBID we regulate the ownership of a weapon or ammunition that can kill large numbers of people faster than you can smoke a cigarette or drink a cocktail.

I cannot feel good about sending my nearly adult children out into a world as foolish and narcissistic as ours if I'm not willing to step up and speak out when something is wrong.  I hope they are learning to do the same without waiting until they are 44.

Fresh Start

I love the New Year, but I don't usually like January.... It's often dark and cold, the holidays are over and it's "back to the grind."  For someone who struggles with seasonal depression, the cold, dark days can make it difficult to focus on the joy and love that is life.  Even though yesterday was Epiphany and the "light" is getting brighter and longer everyday, it is still dark in the morning and dark in the world.  I've made no resolutions this year, but have decided that one thing I'm going to try to do is be kinder to myself.  Fewer "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts," more breathing, reading, singing and exercising.  And more writing.
Since my last post, our life has been a little upside down and it's been difficult to focus on anything in particular other than getting through life.

One of the difficulties of blogging about the phase of parenting that I am in is that, unlike babies and toddlers, my children will see what I write.  It is important to me that while I need to write about the issues that are relevant to me, I also need to be respectful of their privacy.  To do that I must really focus on "my" side of the story.  What is my role in their growing pains?

Shortly before Christmas, my middle daughter hit a rough patch and it knocked the wind out of our sails for a bit.  She is back on track for the most part, but it was a scary time for my husband and I.  In the past I have blogged about "little children, little problems~ big children, big problems".  SO TRUE.

I have long been a fan of natural consequences and the idea that children learn best through experience.  In fact, some of the best learning happens during the most unpleasant experiences.  This is so easy to advocate and follow when natural consequences might mean a bump on the head, a skinned knee or even an after-school detention.  But what about when the consequences could be life long?  While we hope we have prepared our children to go out into the world and take care of themselves and others, we can't be sure until it actually happens.  What about when there are big consequences for little children through no fault of their own, like in Newtown?

Until then, we earn our gray hairs and wrinkles and return to the sleepless nights we had when they were babies, only now we can't snuggle up and nurse away their hurt and fear.  All we can do is listen, pray and be clear.  Once in a while a snuggle happens too.